Prince Charles blows Robin’s socks off

Prince Charles has declared his Hawick-made tartan socks the perfect fit, and the future king thanked local mill boss Robin Deas personally at a prestigious industry dinner.

Mr Deas, managing director at House of Cheviot, which makes luxury Highland and country socks from its base at Galalaw Business Park, was thrilled to receive an invitation to join the elite Incorporation of Weavers of Glasgow event, hosted by the Duke of Rothesay, and held at Dumfries House near Cumnock in Ayrshire, at the end of last month.

He was introduced to the prince by James Sugden, well known in Hawick as the former Johnstons of Elgin managing director and now a keen supporter of the Prince’s Trust.

Mr Deas told the Hawick News: “I’m really proud that I was invited to meet the prince. I had a fabulous evening and I’m still buzzing about it yet.

“Although I’d met him briefly many, many years ago, it was great this time to meet him head on, and for him to recognise what the industry is doing and what House of Cheviot is doing.

“I was also really chuffed because he went on to be so complimentary about the socks he gets from us.”

Mr Deas says his company has been making socks for the prince for a “long time” and that the association with His Royal Highness is set to continue. He went on: “We’re now working with the prince on a new set of socks, using an ancient tartan which the prince had seen and loved. This design will also be worn by Prince William and Prince Harry.”

This is not the first time House of Cheviot has gained the royal seal of approval, though, as the Queen shares son Charles’ taste in luxury socks.

Mr Deas explained: “When the Queen is up north she wears a kilted skirt and we make the socks. However, prior to one trip up to Balmoral, the staff at Buckingham Palace had washed her socks and shrunk them. We then got a phone call from the palace, asking us if we could remake the socks, and I said we could, but the palace said they needed to be ready for the next day.

“So we all worked through the night and I then drove up to Balmoral and dropped them off at the gatehouse and drove back again!”

The mill chief added that a few years ago, during another brush with royalty, he was given a “good-natured ticking off” by the Queen after sending her a pair of cashmere socks.